Feb 8, 2018
Parts of the UK that backed a Leave vote would face the heaviest hit as a result of Brexit, according to estimates by government officials.
The forecasts, seen by MPs, model the 15-year impact of the UK staying in the single market, doing a trade deal with the EU or leaving without a deal.
They suggest that in England, the North East and West Midlands would see the biggest slowdown in growth.
The government said the document did not represent its policy.
It added that the forecasts did not “consider the outcome we are seeking in the negotiations”.
And one Eurosceptic Tory MP said the figures were “complete nonsense”.
Following a leak of some of the information to Buzzfeed last week, and political pressure to release it, ministers agreed to allow MPs to see the reports on a confidential basis in the House of Commons library.
In each scenario, growth would be lower, by 2%, 5% and 8% respectively, than currently forecast over a 15-year period.
In north-east England growth would be 3% lower if the UK stayed in the single market, 11% under a trade deal and 16% with no trade deal compared with staying in the EU.
The research suggests London – which backed Remain – would fare the best, with reductions of 1%, 2% and 2.5% in each of the three scenarios.
Scotland’s estimated hit would be 2.5%, 6% and 9%. Wales would see reductions of 1.5%, 5.5% and 9.5%.
Brexit-backing Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused Treasury officials of “fiddling the figures” to make all options but staying in the EU look bad.
Whitehall trade union reacted angrily to this suggestion and government ministers have dismissed his allegation.
